Surgery delay criticised

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 1

Surgery delay criticised

PA Auckland An apprentice, aged 17, with a broken arm and jaw waited 42 hours for surgery as a spate oi emergencies clogged operating theatres at Middlemore Hospital at the week-end. The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Karen Poutasi, described the length of the wait as .unusual and The staff, however, had to cope with a heavy load of acute surgery, including a 14-hour operation stitching fingers back on to a hand. The worst off had to be treated first, said Dr Poutasi. The apprentice builder, Philip Tomkinson, fell at a building site on Friday afternoon, and was admitted to Middlemore soon after 3 p.m. His father, Mr Eric Tomkinson, said X-rays showed his son’s jaw was broken in two places and his arm in four places. He said his son was sent to a ward about 7 p.m. and listed for surgery at 10 a.m. the next day. The next day. the family was told surgery had been postponed until. early afternoon. There was a further deferment, and Philip Tomkinson finally went to theatre at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Mr Tomkinson said the hospital staff were “excellent,” and many expressed concern about the wait. While his son had not suffered any long-term damage, Mr Tomkinson was angry that he had to wait from Friday until Sunday for treatment. Dr Poutasi said the emergency work-load — mostly accidents — was far higher than normal.